We are nearing the end of our first unit of science. We've been learning about living and nonliving things, and just completed a week-long focus on animal habitats. The kids learned specifically about oceans, polar ice, forests, and deserts. We started out by discussing what we already know about each habitat, and then looking at a slide show of these places and the animals that call them home. After a couple days spent building our schema, each kid pulled a habitat out of a hat, which they were then assigned to create using mostly recycled materials and glue! (Shout out to everyone who sent in their weeks worth of recycling! As you're about to see, we put it to good use!)
The kids had about 4 days to work on building their dioramas. The first day was spent gathering materials. They had to think ahead to everything they might need in order to make an accurate representation of their habitat...a tough skill that they did a great job with! Kids got to accompany Mr. Ploof outside gathering rocks, sticks, leaves, dirt, sand, flowers, grass...basically anything they could find! They also worked in the classroom with me, sorting through our extensive shell collection, getting imaginative with pipe cleaners, glitter, and popsicle sticks, and paper towel rolls.
On day two, the kids put their backgrounds in. This was, hands down, the toughest part. It's tricky to make sure you're using paper efficiently while covering up the entire interior of a cardboard box! Plus, we're still working on cutting skills, and this was good practice for us. This part alone took up an entire science period.
On day three, the magic began! The kids now got to start filling their dioramas and making them look like the real deal. We saw killer whales made of toilet paper rolls make their way into the polar waters, sticks become trees, pipe cleaners become snakes, rocks become shelters, and blank white paper become penguins, squirrels, deer, fish, dolphins, and bunnies!
The kids had about 4 days to work on building their dioramas. The first day was spent gathering materials. They had to think ahead to everything they might need in order to make an accurate representation of their habitat...a tough skill that they did a great job with! Kids got to accompany Mr. Ploof outside gathering rocks, sticks, leaves, dirt, sand, flowers, grass...basically anything they could find! They also worked in the classroom with me, sorting through our extensive shell collection, getting imaginative with pipe cleaners, glitter, and popsicle sticks, and paper towel rolls.
On day two, the kids put their backgrounds in. This was, hands down, the toughest part. It's tricky to make sure you're using paper efficiently while covering up the entire interior of a cardboard box! Plus, we're still working on cutting skills, and this was good practice for us. This part alone took up an entire science period.
On day three, the magic began! The kids now got to start filling their dioramas and making them look like the real deal. We saw killer whales made of toilet paper rolls make their way into the polar waters, sticks become trees, pipe cleaners become snakes, rocks become shelters, and blank white paper become penguins, squirrels, deer, fish, dolphins, and bunnies!
Day four consisted of finishing touches and our first ever experiences with presenting our hard work to the whole class! The kids showed their dioramas to the class, told what their habitat was, and what they included inside in order to portray the habitat. Each kid was eager to present their work and did a great job! Public speaking may be in all of their futures...
Take a look at the wonderful work they did!
Take a look at the wonderful work they did!
I am so impressed by how well the kids did, and how much time, energy, and genuine enthusiasm they put into this project. It was the first real project they've ever done, but you truly would never have known it. They walked out of the room with so much pride today, as they carried their habitats through the hall towards pick up. I hope you have a blast hearing about what they did, because I am sure they are going to have a blast telling you all about it tonight!!!
****A few notes and reminders before I sign off:
- Please remember that we don't have school this Friday (10/16) or Monday (10/19)
- The permission slips and money for Chapins Orchard are due on Thursday the 22nd
- There are a few new items on the class wish list
- The math homework sent home tonight isn't due until Thursday...complete at your leisure! Beginning next week, I will be slightly changing the way I send homework home...so keep your eyes out for an email explaining our new ideas
****A few notes and reminders before I sign off:
- Please remember that we don't have school this Friday (10/16) or Monday (10/19)
- The permission slips and money for Chapins Orchard are due on Thursday the 22nd
- There are a few new items on the class wish list
- The math homework sent home tonight isn't due until Thursday...complete at your leisure! Beginning next week, I will be slightly changing the way I send homework home...so keep your eyes out for an email explaining our new ideas